LAW REFORM (Hansard, 24 October 1973)

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

(1) The Report of the Committee on Death Certificates and Coroners: No conclusions have been reached. The Report is still under active consideration.

(2) The Report of the Committee on Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911: As the Home Secretary announced on 29th June the Government accept in principle that section 2 of the 1911 Act should be repealed, and replaced by legislation on the general lines proposed by the Committee.

(3) The Report of the Committee on Privacy: The Government intend to publish a White Paper later this year, setting out their conclusions on the recommendations of this Committee.

(4) The Report of the Committee on the Adoption of Children: No. The Report as a whole raises complex issues which the Government are considering in the light of the comments they have received.

(5) The Report of the Committee on the Law of Sunday Observance: The Sunday Cinema Act 1972 and the Sunday Theatre Act 1972 implemented certain recommendations of this Committee relating to cinemas and theatres. The 734WA Government have no present plans for legislation on the Committee's other recommendations.

(6) The Report of the Population Panel: The Government have already made provision for family planning to be an integral part of the National Health Service. They are still determining their attitude towards the other recommendations of the Population Panel and an announcement will be made later in the autumn.

(7) The Report of the Law Reform Committee on Conversion and Detinue: The Government accept these recommendations.

(8) The Report of the Law Reform Committee on the Interpretation of Wills: The Government have not yet reached any conclusion on this Report, which was submitted in March of this year. Comments on the recommendations, which were not unanimous, have been invited from a number of bodies and the Government will reach no final decision until these have been received and studied.

(9) The Report of the Law Commissions on Taxation of Income and Gains Derived from Land: Of the specific recommendations contained in this Report, two, one to bring the capital gains tax treatment under English and Scottish Law on a particular matter into line, and the other to improve certain appeal procedures, were implemented in the 1971 and 1972 Finance Acts respectively. The remaining five specific recommendations will continue to be borne in mind at the appropriate time.

(10) The Report of the Law Commission on the Interpretation of Statutes: As the noble and learned Lord is aware, the Report of the two Law Commissions provoked strong criticism, with some of which the Government sympathises. We have no present intention of introducing legislation.

(11) The Report of the Law Commission on Family Property: This was an introductory Report. No final conclusions can be reached until the Law Commission have submitted further and more detailed Reports on this subject.

(12) The Report of the Law Commission on Forgery and Counterfeit Currency: The Report is under consideration.

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(13) The Report of the Law Commission on Personal Injury litigation—The Assessment of Damages: The Government are considering the recommendations in this Report, but have not yet reached any final conclusion.

(14) The 21st and 22nd Reports of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Aid and Advice: Three of the four recommendations in the 21st Report have been implemented. The other, which concerns a possible amendment to the Legal Aid Act 1964 is still being considered. The recommendations in the 22nd Report, published on 19th June, are also under consideration.